According to the Palestinian News Agency WAFA, Israel Prison Service released 18-year-old Hassan Tamimi after he completely lost his sight due to medical negligence in the Israeli jail where he was held.

Hassan Tamimi was arrested on April 7 despite his fragile health. He has since been awaiting trial in Ofer Military Prison. The main charge for his prosecution is throwing stones.

As reported by Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Hassan has had a serious medical condition since birth. His inability to absorb proteins has resulted in serious effects on his liver and kidneys.

“He lives on strict vegetarian diet which does not include any kind of proteins. He also has to constantly take several kinds of supplements and medicines such as Flagyl, Carnitine and B12,” reported Addameer.

Hassan’s father stated in the report that Hassan was not provided with any medication or with any means to continue his strict vegetarian diet. Due to this, his conditions worsened and Hassan went into coma on May 28.

According to Middle East Monitor, the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) released a statement confirming that Hassan lost his sight due to medical negligence.

The Israeli Prison Service (IPS) has adopted “a policy of deliberate medical neglect against prisoners and detainees,” Addameer states. There is a continuation of denying responsibility in providing appropriate healthcare and periodic medical check-ups for prisoners and detainees from Israeli’s behalf.

The conditions of the prisons – which are not in line with international standards – and the dry climate of the region are some of the factors affecting the prisoners and detainees. Also, the prison administrators abandon their responsibility to provide personal and public hygiene and do not guarantee measures to ensure the health of the prisoners.

This is one of the many cases of medical negligence in Israeli prisons and jails. 53-year-old Khalid Awisat died on May 2, after being beaten and sent to solitary confinement. Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestinian Authority Prisoners Affairs Committee stated that Awisat’s death was caused because “he was beaten to death”.

According to Article 76 of the Geneva Conventions 1949 on the treatment of detainees, “a person accused of offences […] shall enjoy conditions of food and hygiene which will be sufficient to keep them in good health. They shall receive the medical attention required by their state of health.” Israel is not safeguarding the Geneva Convention, hence, disregarding international law.